Do you love flowers but hate weeding, watering, and replanting every spring? Native California flowers may be the answer. These drought-tolerant, resilient blooms are perfectly adapted to Southern California’s climate, meaning less water, less effort, and a big...
Is there a perfect tree for low-effort gardeners? In SoCal, it might be the desert willow, a native plant that manages just fine without help but flourishes with a little TLC — occasional waterings and “haircut” now and then. The desert willow (Chilopsis...
Gardening in Southern California is a year-round activity, thanks to mild winters, hot summers, and varied microclimates. However, in some areas, the soil may work against you. The Los Angeles Basin features soils like the Chino Association, a gray, calcareous silt...
First, a point of clarification: peonies are NOT cute little ungulates that girls love. They’re showy, cool-weather flowering plants that often struggle in Southern California gardens. Peonies are native to the chillier climes of Europe, America, and Asia. But...
Tulips need a chilling period to bloom. Crocus and hyacinth likewise need cold stratification to flower. Some ornamental lilies may struggle in Southern California’s hot, dry summers. What’s an aspiring bulb flower gardener to do? You’ll be happy to...
Imagine a canopy of lush foliage and cascading purple blooms that shelter you from the summer sun and envelop you with their soft perfume. Those fragrant flowers hang from a fast-growing wisteria vine, a hardy plant that can live for over 50 years with proper care. It...
